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Pruzzo says Mora is not ready and calls for another striker; Pes backs Cristante and Pisilli as midfield pairing
·21 October 2026·6d ago

Pruzzo says Mora is not ready and calls for another striker; Pes backs Cristante and Pisilli as midfield pairing

Source: Roma News

Former Roma striker Roberto Pruzzo has criticised Mora's display and called for the club to consider another attacker, after Roma's recent wins over Genoa and Slovan Bratislava. Speaking on Radio Radio, Pruzzo said the two games after the Real Madrid match had been needed because they gave the squad game time and satisfaction. He added that the strikers should be getting more minutes in these fixtures, and that Castro does not play. Pruzzo said: "Peccato che gli attaccanti, in queste gare, siano quelli che dovrebbero avere più spazio: Castro non gioca. Mi dispiace che Castro non giochi mai. Mora non ha approfittato dell'occasione, non è pronto per questo palcoscenico. Mi sembra sia il momento di pensare a un altro attaccante."

Roma's win was described by Orsi on Radio Radio as calm and simple, with the only sour note being the injury to Pellegrini. Orsi said the game had few highlights, was too easy and too simple, and that Slovan are not much. He added: "Vittoria tranquilla e semplice. L'unica nota stonata è l'infortunio di Pellegrini. È stata una partita con pochi spunti, troppo facile e troppo semplice. Bene così: si è faticato poco, lo Slovan è poca roba. La Roma ha fatto la partita giusta, la partita che doveva fare."

Carina was surprised that a side like Slovan could take part in the Champions League, saying Roma could have scored eight goals. He said Molina had not played a great game and seemed off form, and that Mora had not produced a sufficient performance, appearing to want to do too much. Carina said: "È un mistero come possa partecipare alla Champions una squadra come lo Slovan. La Roma poteva fare otto gol in un contesto del genere. Molina non fa una grandissima partita, mi è sembrato come se qualcosa non girasse al meglio. Mora non ha fatto una gara sufficiente: dà l'idea di voler sempre strafare. È bravo, ma deve giocare più semplice. Ghilardi fa una partita eccezionale. Castro, quando capiterà l'occasione, giocherà: non è un problema." Mattioli said Slovan were more Conference League material than Champions League, and that Roma had been fortunate to face manageable sides like Genoa and Slovan to regain their mental focus.

In midfield, Pes told TeleRadioStereo that De Roon and Cristante have the same characteristics and he does not think they can play together. He said De Roon can handle a game from the bench, having played every match so far. Pes said: "De Roon e Cristante hanno caratteristiche uguali, non penso possano giocare insieme. De Roon una gara dalla panchina può farla, ne ha giocate tutte fino ad ora. Per me Cristante–Pisilli è la coppia giusta. Mi sembra fosse anche la coppia dell'anno scorso, perché Koné era infortunato. Se utilizzi Mora come elemento offensivo hai un cambio con Castro, e per me serve: non puoi iniziare con tutti i centrocampisti e poi non avere cambi. Se Cristante è a disposizione, inizi con Pisilli."

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Testo Originale / Source Text

“Pruzzo a Radio Radio: “Le due partite arrivate dopo il Real ci volevano, perché hanno dato presenza e soddisfazione. Peccato che gli attaccanti, in queste gare, siano quelli che dovrebbero avere più spazio: Castro non gioca. Mi dispiace che Castro non giochi mai. Mora non ha approfittato…”

Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.

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7h ago

Gasperini on Malen's omission, Roma's win over Cagliari and the squad's fatigue

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini spoke to reporters before and after his side's Serie A win over Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, the ninth matchday fixture, and said the team's second-half dip came down to fatigue and injuries rather than anything more serious. Gasperini said: "It's going very well like this. Tonight we had some players who were struggling, who hadn't fully recovered. Some of their players, especially up front, were fresher and put us under pressure. That's the only reason." He added: "Our midfield has been playing the same men every time for 90 minutes, and you could see some fatigue. Winning this game is an even greater credit, partly through the substitutions and partly through the will of everyone." The win came without a number of key players. Gasperini confirmed that Balerdi and Hermoso were unavailable as they were not in condition to play, and said Roma need time to recover. He said: "It's not easy to play so many games without Dybala, Koné, and Pellegrini, who isn't here... Svilar a little less, Gollini was sensational." Cristante returned after a month out and played two 90-minute games in three days, which Gasperini said was a factor. He also described Cagliari as a difficult side. On goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, Gasperini said: "He wouldn't have made 112 games with me if he weren't a goalkeeper of quality." He recalled that Gollini had been the third-choice goalkeeper for Italy at the start, and said: "I never had doubts about his qualities and potential. We put a few things right, and for the past year and a half he has trained superbly. I'm very happy with what he did tonight and in these last games. Up close he is extraordinary, although sometimes he concedes from distance, which has always been a limit of his. But he is a goalkeeper of great value." Gasperini praised the club's youth products after Lulli's assist for Pisilli's goal. He said: "They are wonderful boys. The Roma youth sector always produces fine talents. Lulli was training to head the ball yesterday, and today he scored with his head. It isn't his best piece, but it was extraordinary." On Mora, he said: "I saw him score against Porto, similar to tonight's goal. He is small, but very coordinated and jumps very well. He strikes the ball with real force, and that is a great goal." Asked about Mora's recent role, Gasperini said: "I'm fortunate to see the training sessions, so I decide based on those. Having not played some matches, or having played little at the end, he reacted in the best possible way. He has this speed and quickness. He is still very young and must still develop physically to last longer and to start games, perhaps even for 90 minutes. But at the moment, used this way, he is an important weapon." He noted Mora had already played a few minutes at Napoli, taking part in the move for the equaliser, and added: "Compared to the start of the year he is clearly evolving. The header, despite his height, is a sign of that." Asked whether the team's defensive lapses had cost them, Gasperini agreed in part. He said: "Yes, it has happened in other situations too. This is our sixth match in a row played every three days. You can find players who have produced important performances and then find them tired. Koulierakis played tonight in his first match. Unfortunately Balerdi and Hermoso could not play. I think the Napoli game also left some marks and knocks. We now have to recover them." He concluded: "Winning and scoring goals of this type is a great sign of strength. Rather than the negatives, I would focus on that." Asked about the squad's depth and his own role, Gasperini said: "This is a great reward, but I am very happy for these players. All of them, without exception, feel fulfilled right now. Every match counts, not just the ones against Real Madrid, Como or Inter. These matches are worth three points just like the others. Right now every player in the squad is involved and decisive. Even Gollini, for example. Wesley was not in the starting line-up, he came on only later. That is certainly one of our strengths." On Dybala, Gasperini said he had been optimistic about the forward's availability for selection, having seen him train on Sunday and Monday, but the Argentine was not available tonight. He said: "Unfortunately, when Paulo has to recover from injury, it always takes a little longer." Asked whether Dybala could be available for the trip to Udine, he gave no firm answer in the interview.

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Roma come from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Olimpico
Match ReportSerie A● AI
8h ago

Roma come from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Olimpico

Roma came from behind to beat Cagliari 4-2 at the Stadio Olimpico in their Serie A ninth-round match, staying in touch with the top of the table. Nzola scored from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after Pisilli handled in the area, and Cagliari led early. Roma responded quickly. Lulli headed in a Molina cross in the 14th minute, and Pisilli made it 2-1 in the 21st with a right-foot finish after Lulli broke down the right and delivered a low cross. Roma went in 2-1 up at half-time, but they were far from comfortable, with Gollini forced to save from Adopo. Gasperini made several changes from the Napoli trip, which ended 3-3. Castro started as the central striker, with Cristante and Soulé in support, while Koulierakis was given a chance in defence and Lulli and Molina played on the flanks. Mancini, Ndicka and Gollini also started. Roma were without Svilar, Koné and Pellegrini, all unavailable. Dybala was returning to the squad but began on the bench. Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, were without Winks, who was sidelined with lower back pain, while Trepy was available again. The second half was tense. Wesley came on for Molina at the restart, and Cagliari continued to press. Roma were guilty of imprecision, and the visitors were physically sharper for long spells. Nzola troubled Ndicka with his physicality and Fadera forced Gollini into a save. Malen and Mora came on in the 55th minute, replacing Castro and De Roon. Roma then faced a late scare when Maldini finished in the area in the 82nd minute to make it 3-2, after Romano had released him. Mancini was replaced by Ghilardi in the 83rd minute, and Rensch came on for Lulli in the 76th minute. Roma restored their lead with a fine header from Mora in the 85th minute. Ghilardi's deep cross found him, and Mora rose to head into the corner. Malen sealed the win in the 87th minute, when Mora's pass set him up to strike twice with his right foot. His first effort was blocked, but the second beat Caprile. Gollini made another save from Mendy in stoppage time, and the referee was Feliciani of Teramo. Roma stay in touch with the leaders after a 4-2 win that owed much to their resilience.

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